CANADA STOCKS-TSX poised to open lower ahead of U.S. jobs report

Aug 1 (Reuters) - Canadian stocks looked set to open lower on the last trading day of the week, as investors remained on the sidelines ahead of the key U.S. jobs report.

September futures on the S&P TSX index <0#SXF:> were down 0.25 percent at 0715 ET.

August data for manufacturing PMI is due at 0930 ET.

The TSX index tumbled on Thursday after a default by Argentina stoked worries about other emerging-market economies, while shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International dropped sharply after the drugmaker cut its forecast.

Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures were down 0.59 percent at 0715 ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures were down 0.60 percent. Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures were down 0.68 percent.

U.S. job growth likely cooled a bit in July, but retained enough momentum to suggest the economy remained on solid ground.

TOP STORIES

Pipeline company Enbridge Inc reported a better-than-expected profit in the second quarter, driven mainly by higher shipment volumes on the Canadian Mainline system.

Canadian Oil Sands Ltd said on Thursday that its second-quarter profit fell by one-fifth on lower production and higher government payments.

Canada’s three biggest telecom firms, BCE Inc, Rogers Communications Inc and Telus Corp, keen to keep shareholders happy with fat dividends, are breaking into businesses ranging from banking to healthcare to drive growth as they run out of expansion options and shy away from overseas purchases.